JASPAL Bansal has played enough cricket to know that getting out on 97 for the third time this season isn't going to dim the enthusiasm he has for the game.
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Batting at three for CYMS against South Dubbo in Whitney Cup first grade on Saturday, the former Indian under-19 batsman fell just short of his second century for the season.
After facing 171 balls in a mammoth 219 minutes on a flat No.3 Oval wicket, Toby Morgan picked up the catch off Scott Tucker's bowling and Bansal was sent on his way.
"It was disappointing not to get to three figures today but that's the nature of the game," he said. "The most important aspect of the day was for CYMS to get a good first innings total and we got 208 and picked up a wicket in the remaining overs before stumps so that's been a good day for us."
Tucker, who was used third change in the bowling attack by Souths, can lay claim to having taken Bansal's wicket twice this season - and on both occasions he was on 97.
In a one-day game, also against Souths, Bansal was on 97 and looked certain to reach his century until Tucker got one through his defences and he was bowled.
Then last week against Macquarie Bansal was also on 97 and this time Mark Reichelt had him caught.
Despite his three dismissals at the same number, Bansal has also had his day in the sun getting to 105 against Newtown.
The weekend was a proud one for Bansal who lived for his cricket.
On Friday night he showed he could also mix it with the best in the Twenty20 format when he smashed 57 from 23 scoring shots in the opening round of the McDonald’s Megahit series.
However it wasn’t a good night for the Australian Poker League (CYMS) teams which was clearly beaten by Blackdogs (RSL-Colts).
Then yesterday Bansal played in the inaugural tropical Thunders v Aussie Bolts Twenty20 game along with several of his Indian nationals who now living and being a part of the Dubbo community.
And if he’s not playing the game, Jaspal Bansal is coaching juniors and helping improve the standard of young boys and girls players at all levels of cricket in Dubbo.